San Juan Scene - Sept. 1, 2026

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The 2026-27 school year officially started on Aug. 13. Campuses came alive as staff welcomed students for the first day of a new school year filled with excitement, opportunity and new beginnings. Whether students are taking their first steps into transitional kindergarten, reuniting with friends or beginning their final year before graduation, every school year starts with hope for what's ahead.

This year, our district is celebrating those hopes through our theme, "This is the year..." To mark the first day of school, we invited students and staff to finish that sentence and share what they're looking forward to this year.

San Juan Unified School District is thrilled to welcome three new principals to our district.

Carrie Jackson begins her first year as a San Juan Unified staff member and principal of Mira Loma High School, her alma mater. Jackson is passionate about being a community-centered leader to help open doors for students and families. Learn more about Jackson in this short video.

Deterding Elementary School’s new principal, Kaycie Norton, is excited to continue building meaningful relationships with students, staff, families and the community. Norton previously served as a special education teacher and elementary school vice principal. Learn more about Norton in this short video.

Bethany Pearson joins Del Paso Manor Elementary School as their new principal. With years in education, Pearson’s experience includes roles as a teacher, teacher evaluator, gifted and talented coordinator, equity specialist coach and assistant principal. Learn more about Pearson in this short video.

This summer, new fencing was installed at James Cowan Fundamental Elementary School and Green Oaks Fundamental Elementary School to enhance campus security and create a more secure environment for students and staff.

These improvements are part of San Juan Unified’s ongoing commitment to maintaining safe, welcoming campuses where students and staff can feel comfortable, supported and ready to learn.

Construction began this summer to modernize Mira Loma High School’s locker rooms and athletic spaces, creating functional facilities that better support students and athletics for years to come. The project includes improvements to student locker rooms, showers, team rooms and equipment rooms, as well as upgrades to lighting, plumbing, heating and air conditioning.

Demolition has begun in the science wing at San Juan High School as the space will soon be transformed into modern, innovative learning environments designed to support hands-on learning, collaboration and student success.

The completed project will include two chemistry classrooms, three life science classrooms, two additional classrooms, a maker’s space, teacher prep space, family resource center, modernized restrooms and a small courtyard.

New furniture has also been added in spaces across the campus, further enhancing the learning environment for students and staff.

Together, these improvements are helping create modern, engaging spaces that support collaboration and student success for years to come.

A new state law (Senate Bill 848) requires that volunteers in California schools complete child abuse and mandated reporter training. Volunteers must also complete a tuberculosis (TB) risk assessment or test.

If you are a current volunteer with San Juan Unified, you should have received communication about indicating whether you wish to remain active. It is very important that all current volunteers complete the form, regardless of which option they choose.

Volunteers who indicate they wish to remain active will receive additional information regarding their next steps, including a link to self-register for required child abuse prevention/mandated reporter training. Only volunteers who opt to remain active will receive access to the training materials and TB risk assessment/test.

Please note, if you choose to be removed from our volunteer system and later decide to volunteer again, you will be required to complete all applicable volunteer onboarding requirements in effect at that time, including the required annual training and TB risk assessment or test.

If you are not a current volunteer and wish to volunteer, please visit sanjuan.edu/volunteer and follow the step-by-step instructions.

San Juan Unified is excited to introduce new mathematics curricula in classrooms this school year! Thinking Math! by Innovamat for transitional kindergarten (TK) through fifth grade and Amplify Desmos Math for grades six through eight are designed to help students build strong math skills while developing confidence, problem-solving abilities and a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts.

More than 700 teachers participated in professional learning this summer to prepare for the new curricula. Teachers explored strategies and tools that encourage students to engage in math through problem-solving and classroom discussion, helping make learning more meaningful and collaborative.

For families, this means students will have new opportunities to explore mathematical ideas, make connections and build skills they can use both in and beyond the classroom.

Learn more about the new programs:

• TK-5: Thinking Math! by Innovamat

• Grades 6-8: Amplify Desmos Math California

• Look over classwork and assignments. Ask your child to tell you about the work. Before your child turns schoolwork in, check that it is complete.

• Praise genuine effort and progress.

• Discuss upcoming projects. What is your child looking forward to doing? Will the projects be easy or challenging?